Managing your money

If you are facing hardship, you can get help with your essential household costs from Sutton Council's Household Support Fund. The fund is to be used to support residents experiencing financial hardship who require access to:

• food

• fuel

• utility bills

• winter essentials

Due to the high demand for support, applications are one per household.

You do not need to be claiming benefits to get this support. Find out who is eligible and how to apply.

Find out more about saving energy and support available to pay your energy bills.

We want to support and help you manage rent arrears if you are having financial difficulties, so speaking to us is an essential part of this.

Get in touch with your Housing Manager who will work with you to find a solution to your rent arrears. 

Your Housing Manager can:

• set up and agree on a payment plan with you that will be more manageable for you in order to clear your arrears 

• make referrals to other organisations that can provide you with financial support

• look at ways to help you maximise your income, for example, you may be entitled to claim certain benefits that you didn’t know about.  

Other means of help and advice for rent arrears

• Visit the Citizens Advice website which has advice on dealing with rent arrears

• If you are a leaseholder struggling with debt or service charges please see our page on service charge and mortgage arrears for more information about how we can help you.

If you’re not sure what benefit entitlements you may be eligible for you can use a benefits calculator to find out:

• what benefits you could get

• how to claim

• how your benefits will be affected if you start work.

The UK government website has a range of benefits and financial support on accessing all government services.

If your employment or health situation has changed, you can find out if you are entitled to:

• Universal Credit  

• Council Tax Reduction

• financial help if you’re disabled

Managed by People Arise Now, the St. Helier Community Food Shop serves SHP and St. Helier residents, providing access to affordable groceries for those in need. 

It is open Thursdays, 9.30am-2.30pm at Hill House (Bishopsford Road, Carshalton, SM4 6BL).

Members of the food shop receive 12–15 items of both fresh and non-perishable goods (worth approximately £15) for the cost of just £4 per week.

Discover how to register and access the shop here:  https://www.peoplearisenow.org/food-shop/

 

It’s always a good idea to set yourself an affordable budget and stick to it. There are a number of free budget planner tools that you can use to help you manage your money more effectively.

• The Money Helper website has a free budget planner that puts you in control of your household spending and analyses your results to help you take control of your money

• The Money Saving Expert website has a free downloadable budget planner that you can use to log your ingoings and outgoings to help you see how and where you are spending your money and where you might be able to cut back. 

We are working with the Croydon Plus Credit Union which helps residents in Sutton, Merton and Croydon, with financial solutions for all of life’s unexpected situations. You can use their services for:

• setting up a savings pot

• help with low-interest loans

• help with income support

Contact them on 020 3468 8568 or email cu-info@croydonplus.co.uk

 

As part of your budgeting plan, think about those times or occasions that you may incur additional costs such as birthdays, Christmas, school holidays, school uniform purchases etc.  Don’t let these be the reason why you can’t pay your rent or other bills, so planning ahead is key. 

Saving for a rainy day

Saving regularly is a good and healthy habit. Putting aside some money – whether £5 or £100 – on a regular basis is the best way to build up a savings pot. Make it a habit by saving some money to help build up a chunk of money that you can use for celebrations, or a rainy day. It’s that easy!

 

If you’re finding it difficult to manage your money we would strongly advise that you do not borrow money from an illegal money lender (or loan shark). 

Illegal money lenders often prey on vulnerable people and add huge amounts of interest or APR to any money they loan you.

They can also threaten and harass you and take away your bank card, passport, watch or other valuables from you until you have repaid them. 

If you have borrowed from an illegal money lender, or are worried about someone else who has, please report it:

Stop Loan Sharks
0300 555 2222 24 hours a day
Text: 07860 022 116
reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk  

Stop Loan Sharks can investigate and prosecute the illegal lender and provide you with emotional and practical support tailored to your needs. 

You should also let your Housing Manager know if this is the cause of your rent arrears or if it is impacting on other areas of your health and wellbeing.

Watch: How to spot a loan shark

 

There are various specialists you can contact that provide a full range of impartial debt advice services to help you manage your finances.

Citizen Advice Sutton

Their team of specialist, expert debt advisers can provide the full range of debt advice services, including Debt Relief Orders.

020 3463 1913 Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
debtadvice@citizensadvicesutton.org.uk

Please note, this phone number is only for debt advice. If you need advice on anything else please contact Citizens Advice Sutton on 020 8405 3552 Monday to Friday 9am–5pm.

Debt Free London

Debt Free London has also relaunched their 24-hour helpline where you can get free impartial advice.
0800 808 5700 (24 hours a day)
Debt Free London

National Debt Line

0808 808 4000, Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm and Saturday 9.30am-1pm
National Debt Line

Step Change

0800 138 1111, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm
StepChange Debt Charity

Get more help

• The Money Helper website is free and impartial. You can use it to get debt and money advice, help with budgeting and benefits advice.

• Together For Sutton offers free confidential, independent and impartial advice to residents of Sutton. They work alongside Citizens Advice Sutton and Age UK Sutton to provide advice on debt and benefits, housing, employment, social care and caring.

• You can visit our webpage on financial and digital inclusion to see schemes on offer that can help with affordable food and targeted support, school uniforms, low-cost rental furniture and more.

 

The government's Money Helper has lots of free information and resources to help you manage your money in uncertain times and how to keep up with essential bills and payments. 

• Living on a squeezed income 

• Help if you're struggling with bills and payments

• Talking to your creditor

• Redundancy and losing your job

• Financial support if you're self-employed

 

There are many things you can do to try and reduce your fuel bills. Below are some schemes and tips to help you save energy and links to government help for financial support if you're on a low income. 

Compare and save

We are working with Energy Angels who provide a free and impartial energy comparison service that you can use at any time. 

To use this free service, visit the Energy Angels website , call 01902 585503, or contact your Housing Manager who can make a referral on your behalf.

Saving energy at home: some tips

You also can reduce your bills by following these energy-saving tips:

• shut outside doors

• close curtains at night

• shut all windows, unless you need ventilation

• turn the room thermostat down as far as you can, while still remaining comfortable

• wear warm clothes in winter

• turn off the heating in late spring and summer

• boil only the water you need rather than filling the kettle completely

• don’t leave appliances like televisions in standby mode; they still use electricity; instead, switch them off properly at the ‘off’ switch

• turn off all lights when you don’t need them.

Government help

Winter fuel payments

You may be entitled to winter fuel payments from the government.

Warm home discount scheme

If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income, find out about the government's Warm Home Discount Scheme

Cold weather payment

If you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest you may be eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment